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                                                                    Exhibit 23.1


                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 and related Prospectus of Verizon
Communications Inc. and Verizon Global Funding Corp. for the registration of
$5,000,000,000 principal amount of debt securities, and to the incorporation by
reference therein of our report dated February 1, 2001, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Verizon
Communications Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
December 31, 2000, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York

November 16, 2001

